Manchester City win Premier League title in final-day thriller, beating Aston Villa 3-2 from two goals down
Manchester City have beaten Aston Villa 3-2 from two goals down to win the Premier League in thrilling fashion, holding off Liverpool by a single point on the season’s final day.
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Kevin De Bruyne decided this astonishing Premier League race. With the title tide threatening to turn against them, De Bruyne took responsibility with Manchester City trailing. As Aston Villa’s second goal went in, as City heads fell, it was De Bruyne who urged them on, who took the ball, and took responsibility. And when City incredibly made it back to 2-2 in an unforgettable six-minute period, De Bruyne took charge again, grabbing the ball, driving into the Villa area and setting up Ilkay Gundogan to make it 3-2 to the champions.
This was as dramatic in its way as the Sergio Agüero goal of ten years that brought City’s first Premier League title. Many merit praise, not least Gundogan for his two goals, either side of Rodri’s composed finish, but it was De Bruyne, the leader, the inspiration, the assist-maker, who ultimately settled the nerves of City fans.
De Bruyne adorned the programme cover, and graced long stretches of the season with his sublime passing and it was his sheer strength of personality that turned events here. From the start, De Bruyne read the ball ahead of Douglas Luiz. He took charge of moves, he took charge of corners, he took charge of the title’s destiny. Villa fought so hard but City were simply too strong, too determined and too driven on by De Bruyne.
Liverpool deserve immense credit for stopping the race becoming a procession, responding to being 14 points adrift of City in mid-January, albeit having played two games fewer. Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Thiago Alcântara and Sadio Mané have particularly responded. Liverpool have many admirers, not simply because of the emotion stirred by the club, the rich tapestry and noise of Anfield on matchdays, especially nights, but this City team are something else, taking 93 points out of a possible 114. And with De Bruyne in the side, dreams can come true. And comebacks.
Many others have played their part. Phil Foden is three short of a century of Premier League games and is still only 21. The maturity of his decision-making is simply one of Foden’s many strengths along with his technique and adventure and he was soon running at Matty Cash before John McGinn came across to help. Foden glided in again before Calum Chambers knocked him over, conceding a free kick. Foden, taking a ball from Rodri in his stride, flicked it around Cash.
Rodri’s accurate distribution was measured and effective, feeding Foden down the left, then Riyad Mahrez down the right. Such an adept screening influence, Rodri cleared up after a Cash run, then controlled Aymeric Laporte’s clearance and calmly laid it off to Fernandinho. Rodri then read Emi Buendia’s pass inside to McGinn, picking the ball off.
Pep Guardiola has responded to the thunderous sound of Jürgen Klopp’s thoroughbreds chasing them by driving his players on, and creating almost a siege mentality by suggesting that the whole country wanted Liverpool to win. Guardiola gave the favourites an underdog’s bite. He rallied the fans, demanding more noise, turning round during games and gesturing to supporters to raise the decibel level and urged them to be “loud, loud, loud” in his programme notes here.
They needed little prompting, greeting the City bus with blue smoke bombs, jeering Villa touches, then cheering as Robin Olsen, Villa’s debut-making keeper, overhit a ball to Cash. Olsen was jittery for a while, momentarily concerning the visiting fans. They knocked a beachball around and held up a model European Cup to wave at their City counterparts. “Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” they chorused.
Their mood was lifted further when Tyrone Mings released Ollie Watkins with a long ball, raising City fans’ fears of Fernandinho being exposed for pace but the outgoing captain read the situation perfectly and nicked possession. Yet Fernandinho never looked completely comfortable against Ollie Watkins and it was no surprise when he was replaced at the break.
Yet City fans were soon enjoying news of Pedro Neto’s early goal at Anfield, a Mexican Wave almost breaking out. Emotions were being dragged this way and that, and down as they learnt of Mané’s equaliser against Wolves.
On it went, nerves tightening. After 29 minutes, Guardiola rushed to get a loose ball, whipping it to Bernardo Silva, anxious to get on with things. By now, Guardiola had taken up almost permanent residency at the edge of his area. Wary of nerves creeping into his players, Guardiola encouraged and clapped above his head, signalling his belief.
The day carried an additional intense poignancy. Guardiola’s players had a bee symbol stitched into their shirts and wore black armbands to remember the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing five years ago. As the clock showed 22, fans stood and delivered an emotional salute to those who died.
As the game wore on, City became aggrieved at Olsen’s time-wasting, and Jack Grealish had a brief exchange of views with the fourth official David Coote. But then Villa scored. City had largely dominated but had nothing to show apart from the fans’ acclaim for 37 minutes’ endeavour. Douglas Luiz advanced from the back, past De Bruyne, and passed slightly left to Jacob Ramsey. The 20-year-old, who has blossomed under Steven Gerrard, took the move on, releasing Lucas Digne down the left. Whatever the Frenchman’s occasional defensive weaknesses, he is a huge threat going forward. He made rapid ground, whipping in his cross just before John Stones could intervene. Stones was starting at right back with Kyle Walker only on the bench, and he got caught out here.
As Digne drove the ball across, Cash was sprinting towards the six-yard box, getting in front of Cancelo and powering his header beyond Ederson’s despairing left hand and into the net. Gerrard turned away, allowing himself a brief fist pump.
The City fans in the “Aguerooo” shirts looked away in frustration. Yet they responded, singing Blue Moon, following Guardiola’s exhortation to keep the volume high. And in tune with Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr in the choirs. De Bruyne responded, nicking the ball, trying to drive City on. City would still be champions as the scores stood – on goal difference – but this half-time scoreline wasn’t in the script. Guardiola acted to strengthen his defence, withdrawing Fernandinho for Oleksandr Zinchenko. João Cancelo went to right back, Stones partnered Laporte in trying to combat Watkins with Zinchenko left back.
City besieged Villa’s area. De Bruyne shot over, Gabriel Jesus fired wide, Olsen clutched high balls, Tyrone Mings headed clear. Guardiola twisted again. He removed the quiet Mahrez and sent on Raheem Sterling. The England international has contributed handsomely this season, 13 goals and five assists, and now had to break down a well-organised, determined Villa defence. Mings immediately threw himself in the way of a Sterling cross from the right.
The siege intensified. Chambers hooked away a De Bruyne free kick, then blocked a Jesus shot. Villa’s creative players were tracking back, Buendia seeing off Zinchenko. Guardiola played his last ace, sending on Gundogan for Silva after 68 minutes. Within a minute, Villa were further ahead, again on the counter, this time even more direct. Olsen drove the ball upfield, Watkins flicked on, Philippe Coutinho’s first touch confused Laporte and his second placed it perfectly past Ederson.
Guardiola looked down in disbelief. Cancelo dropped to his haunches. Foden had his head in his hands. De Bruyne shouted encouragement. Grealish, the £100 million recruit from Villa, slumped back in his seat.
City fans urged their team on again. And then it happened. One of the most astonishing stretches of a game then unfolded, beginning in the 76th minute. Sterling got down the right and lifted his cross over Olsen to Gundogan to head in at the far post. Game on. City believed. Guardiola’s subs had worked. They stormed forward again. Another sub, Zinchenko, cut in from the left, and stroked the ball back to Rodri, whose low shot flew between Olsen and his right-hand upright.
City fans were turning and hugging, loving this comeback. And there was more, incredibly. De Bruyne was magnificent, charging in, angling his ball to the far post where Gundogan swept City ahead. The City bench came flying on, Grealish leading the charge. The blue smoke bombs also came flying on. Jesus threw one carefully back to the apron of the field. Olsen got rid of another.
City just now had to hold on to his lead. Fernandinho came to the edge of the technical area and gestured for calm. It was soon all over bar the shouting, the pitch invading and, eventually, the presentation. City are worthy champions. De Bruyne confirmed that.
– The Times
Originally published as Manchester City win Premier League title in final-day thriller, beating Aston Villa 3-2 from two goals down
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